 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
| MICaB Home | Prospective Students | Current Students | Faculty | Alumni | News & Events | |
||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
| List of Students | Resources | Courses | Policies & Practices | Photos | Timetable | |
|||||
|
|
||||||||||
MICaB Course InformationCurriculumMICaB - Major RequirementsAll MICaB students are required to take the following:
Two of the following :
In the fall semester of their first year, students must take the University ethics training: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), Part 1 (a 3-hour session; sign up at http://www.research.umn.edu/first/CourseSchedReg.htm) and Part 2 (taken online) in their first semester. In the spring semester, first-year MICaB students are also required to participate in a MICaB-sponsored Ethics Workshop. MICa 8012 must be taken in the fall of Year 2 and the other two MICa courses (chosen from MICa 8002, 8003, and 8004) you take for major credit must be taken in Year 1. The fundamental key concepts in microbiology, immunology and cancer biology to be tested at the oral preliminary examination are covered in MICa 8002, 8003 and 8004. Therefore, the MICaB program recommends that students take MICa 8002, 8003 AND 8004.
To complete the minor or supporting credits, students should enroll in other relevant science-based graduate level courses (5000-level or higher, but 8000-level preferred). Students should develop this coursework in consultation with their advisor. Please review the MICaB website at http://www.micab.umn.edu/current/courses.html for a list of recommended supporting courses. 4000-level courses. Only one 4000-level course may be applied towards the minor or supporting program. Preparing Future Faculty. Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) is a program co-sponsored by the Graduate School and the Office of Human Resources to provide graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with special teaching and learning opportunities in higher education. More information about the program, PFF courses, and mentoring and teaching opportunities is available on the PFF web site (http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/pff/). Although MICaB students may take both PFF courses (GRAD 8101 and GRAD 8102), ONLY GRAD 8101 may be applied to the student’s supporting program. ENGC 5051 and ENGC 5052. MICaB students who are non-native speakers of English may take ENGC 5051 (Graduate Research Writing Practice for Non-native Speakers of English) and ENGC 5052 (Graduate Research Presentations and Conference Writing for Non-native Speakers of English) to improve written and oral communication skills. However, these courses may NOT be applied to the student’s supporting program. Academic Performance Expectations. The MICaB program requires that all course work taken by MICaB students be graded using the A-F system. Students are expected to receive a grade of B or better in each of these courses. Any grade lower than a C is unacceptable. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in the major course requirements. Students who do not maintain a grade point average of 3.0 will be excused from the program. Class Schedule. The class schedule is online at http://onestop2.umn.edu/courseinfo/classschedule_selectsubject.jsp?institution=UMNTC. Recommendations for supporting credits:Fall Semester BioC 8001. Biochemistry: Structure, Catalysis and Metabolism. Douglas Ohlendorf, Gary Nelsestuen (3 cr), 10:10-11:00, MWF. BioC 8002. Molecular Biology. Reuben Harris, Kathleen
Conklin (3 cr) 9:05-9:55 MWF BioC 5361. Microbial Genomics and Bioinformatics, Larry Wackett and Arkady Khodursky, (3 cr), 10:15-11:30 T TH. Introduction to genomics with an emphasis on developments in microbial genomics. The topics to be covered are sequencing methodologies, sequence analysis, genomics databases, information theory and statistics, protein and DNA structure, proteomics and the genomes of model microbes ChEn 8995. Systems Analysis of Biological Processes.
Wei-Shou Hu (1-4 cr) 2:30-4:30 F GCD 6103 Human Histology Paul Marker, Robert Sorenson (max crs 8.0; 1
repeats allowed; P-N or Audit; Enrolled as medical or dental student
or instr consent) 10:10am-12:05pm MW, PWB 2-470, TCEASTBANK 15401 GCD 8151. Cell Structure and Function. Tom Hayes, Margaret
Titus, Jim McCarthy(3 cr; GCB 4034 or GCB 8121 or BioC 8002 or #) 9:05-10:20
TTh GCD 8181. Stem Cell Biology Slack,Jonathan M W (3 cr; prereq [[4034 or 8121 or BIOC 8002], [4161 or 8161]] or instr consent), 10:00 A.M. - 11:15 A.M., Tu,Th, Embryonic stem cells; biochemistry of pluripotency; neural and hematopoietic stem cells; cell production and renewal in muscle, kidney, pancreas and liver; limb regeneration. Ethical and legal issues raised by embryonic stem cell work; clinical cell therapy in selected areas. NOTE: This course replaces GCD 8212 special topics course. GCD 8213/BioC 8213. Selected Topics in Molecular Biology.
Erik
Hendrickson (4 cr; 8121; BioC 8002 or #) 8:00-9:55 TTh MICa 8010 Microbial Pathogenesis (A-F only; MICa grad student or instr) LEC 08:30-09:45 WF, Southern, Peter , 3 cr Molecular mechanisms of bacterial/viral pathogenesis. Strategies of disease causation/interaction with host, regulation of virulence factors, mechanism of virulence factor transmission to other microbes. Offered every other year, even years. MICa 8011 Topics in Immunology:
(A-F only; SP - MICA 8003 or instr consent) LEC 1:30-2:45 M; 12:00-1:15 W, TCEASTBANK, Farrar, Michael A MICa 8371 Mucosal Immunobiology: (A-F only; Credit will not be granted if credit has been received for: MVB 8371, OBIO 8371), LEC 3:00-4:30 MW (3 credits), Herzberg, Mark
GCD 8073. Advanced Human Genetics. Richard King (3 cr; 8121
or #) 9:05-9:55 MWF GCD 8131. Advanced Genetics. Robert Herman (3 cr; 3022 or Biol
4003, BioC 3021 or BioC 4331 or #) GCD 8161. Advanced Developmental Biology. Robert Herman (3
cr; [GCB 8131 or Biol 4003], GCB 5034 or GCB 8121 or BioC 8002 or
#) 2:30-3:45 pm TTh GCD 8008. Mammalian Gene Transfer and Expression. Scott McIvor (2 cr; SPó#) 08:00am-09:55am T Current gene transfer technology and applications of genetic modifications in animals, particularly transgenic animals and human gene therapy. MICa 8009. Biochemical Aspects of Normal and Abnormal Cell Growth and Cell Death. Khalil Ahmed (2 cr; 8004 or [BioC 3021, Biol 4004] or #) 03:35pm-05:30pm F Aspects of mechanisms involved in growth control at level of nuclear function. Neoplasia in hormonal cancers (such as prostate cancer) and role of protein phosphorylation in normal and abnormal growth. Mechanisms of cell death via apoptosis and its implications in normal and abnormal proliferation. BioC 8216. Signal Transduction and Gene Expression. Do-Hyung Kim (4 cr; BioC 8002 or #) 2:30-4:25 TTh BioC 5352. Microbial Biochemistry and Biotechnology: Proteins . Michael Flickinger. (3 cr) 1:55-2:45 pm MWF. Offered every other odd years. BioC 5353 is offered even years. For students interested in genomics: Spring Semester Fall Semester CSci 5481 Computational Techniques of Genomics. George Karypis (CSci 4041 or instr consent)2:30-3:45 pm, TTh *Descriptions of all courses may be found at the web site http://onestop2.umn.edu/courseinfo/classschedule_selectsubject.jsp?institution=UMNTC RegistrationRegistration is completed online at http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/registration.html. ALL Graduate School students are required to register in the Graduate School every fall and spring term in order to maintain active status. Students should register for a minimum of 6 credits, and a maximum of 14 credits. If your total course registration is less than 6 credits, register for MICa 8666 for the number of credits necessary to meet the minimum of 6 total credits. Students scheduled to complete their teaching requirement should register for MICa 5000 (1 credit). Thesis Credits. The Graduate School requires students to register for 24 thesis credits after passing the oral preliminary examination. MICaB students must register for MICa 8888 (doctoral thesis credits) the semester immediately after passing the oral preliminary examination (10-14 credits) and then the following semester (10-14 credits for a total of 24 thesis credits). Students are required to complete the required thesis credits within two semesters, as students are placed in a status that dramatically reduces tuition fees paid by the student’s advisor following completion of the thesis credits. Students should contact the departmental office where their payroll is processed after completion of the 24 thesis credits so that tuition reduction paperwork can be completed. Students who have completed the major requirements and 24 thesis credits should register for MICa 8444 1 FTE only and complete the one-credit registration request (available from the MICaB Program Coordinator). The one-credit registration request must be completed every semester of enrollment. Summer Registration. Students should not register for summer session unless the student is a NSF fellow or needs to complete the 24 MICa 8888 thesis credit minimum in order to graduate the following fall. Students who register for summer session must complete the "Summer Request for Tuition Benefits" form and submit it to the Graduate Assistant Office (200 Donhowe) and a copy to the student's departmental payroll office. Financial AssistanceStudents are provided with stipend (currently $24,500/year) and fringe benefit support for their entire training period as long as they make satisfactory progress. Support is awarded on a semester basis. First-year students are supported by Research Assistantships from the MICaB program. Funds for this purpose come from the Department of Microbiology, the Center for Immunology, the Masonic Cancer Center, the Medical School, Graduate School Block Grants, or Graduate School Fellowships for New Students. Presently, full tuition remission and eligibility for the Graduate Assistant Health-Care Plan accompanies these assistantships. Students pay student services fees. First-year student assistantships extend through the entire rotation period (up to 30 weeks). Once a first-year student selects an advisor, his or her support must come from that advisor via one or more of the following sources:
TeachingAn essential aspect of advanced study in biology is the experience gained in teaching and in preparation for laboratory courses. For this reason, the MICaB program requires that each Ph.D. student assist in laboratory teaching for one semester and serve as a grader for one semester during their tenure in the program. Typical teaching duties include assisting students in a “wet lab”, preparing reagents and equipment for student use, grading notebooks and examinations, and conducting tutorial and review sessions. Teaching requirements are typically fulfilled beginning in the fall semester of the second year in the MICaB program. The MICaB Program Coordinator will notify students by E-mail prior to the start of the fall semester regarding the available teaching opportunities. Students should respond promptly to this E-mail with specific preferences and any obligations or commitments that may conflict with teaching in any given semester. The MICaB program will make every effort to accommodate specific preferences, but this is not guaranteed. Information for MICaB students who are Nonnative English Speakers. University of Minnesota policy requires that all nonnative English speaking teaching assistants take the SPEAK test or provide official documentation of their score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). University of Minnesota policy considers a nonnative speaker to be a person who grew up in a home where the language was other than English. This applies to US citizens and to those who have degrees from institutions in the United States or countries where English is the medium of instruction. The MICaB program recommends that all students who are nonnative English speakers take the SPEAK test during their first year in the program. Students must obtain a minimum score of 50 on the SPEAK test in order to be able to complete their teaching requirements in the MICaB program. Students can register for the SPEAK test in person at Room 312 Science Classroom Building or by phone at 612-625-3041. Additional information on the SPEAK test is available at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/nonnative/speak/index.html. Additional resources for Nonnative English speakers engaged in teaching are available at the Center for Teaching and Learning Services (http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/nonnative/index.html) and the International TA Program (http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/itap/index.html). Teaching Resources. The Center for Teaching and Learning Services (http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/index.html) provides resources for a successful teaching experience. These resources include a Teaching Enrichment Series (http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/enrichment/index.html) and Online Workshops and Tutorials (http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/index.html). For students seeking help in writing:OnLine Writing Center: http://www.owc.umn.edu/ The following courses are also available for students who are non-native speakers of English: ENGC 5051 - Graduate Research Writing Practice for Non-native Speakers of English ENGC 5052 - Graduate Research Presentations and Conference Writing for Non-native Speakers of English NOTE: ENGC 5051 and ENGC 5052 may NOT be applied to a student's supporting program.
Written Proposition and Oral Preliminary Examination Guidelines pdfThesis/Project Proposal TransmittalNo later than the first semester following passage of the preliminary oral examination, students must file the official Graduate School thesis title form and statement (pdf). The statement, approximately 250 words in length, must describe the research to be undertaken and the methods to be employed in carrying it out. The composition of the thesis committee is left to the student and advisor's discretion without CGS oversight.. Thesis - PreparationStudents nearing the completion of their thesis research should raise the possibility of finishing the program with their thesis committee at their annual progress review meeting. If the thesis committee agrees that the student has enough results to form a defensible thesis, the student begins writing the thesis. Students should read the guidelines for preparing a thesis which are available online from the Graduate School. The student should contact the DGS to identify the readers. After the thesis is completed and the advisor is satisfied with the draft, the student submits a typed copy to the thesis reviewers and other members of the examining committee. The committee members must be given adequate time (one month) to confer with the candidate on the content of the thesis. After this draft has been tentatively approved, the student prepares the final thesis and resubmits it to all members of the thesis committee. Acceptance of the thesis indicates that the thesis has been corrected in proper response to the comments of the committee members. The thesis reviewers then sign a Graduate School form certifying that the thesis is ready for oral defense. The candidate should contact the MICaB office for room arrangements and to send out announcements. The candidate then presents his/her thesis in a public seminar with the examining committee present. The seminar constitutes the final oral examination, and is followed by a short meeting of the examining committee, who must sign a Graduate School form indicating the results of the final oral examination. A member of the examining committee other than the advisor chairs the final oral examination. All faculty and students are urged to attend the final oral examination. Thesis - SubmissionThe Graduate School requires all students to submit two copies of the final completed thesis. These copies must be printed on 100% cotton rag paper and should follow the format outlined in the Graduate School's thesis preparation instructions. The Graduate School will not award the official degree until these copies have been received. Most students will need at least six copies: two on special paper for the Graduate School, one for the program, one for the advisor, one or more for family, and one for themselves. Students may copy their Ph.D. or M.S. theses on a departmental copier. The MICaB Program will pick up the copying charges, but students must supply their own thesis-quality paper. Thesis binding is the student's responsibility. Seminars and Journal ClubsSEMINARS MICaB Invited Speaker Seminar Series. The MICaB Invited Speaker Seminar Series features research presentations from scientists from other institutions who have been invited to the University of Minnesota by MICaB faculty. The seminar is held on Mondays at Noon during the academic year (see http://www.micab.umn.edu/news/invitedsemseries.html for the room and seminar schedule). Students and postdocs have lunch with the seminar speaker after the seminar. Students are also encouraged to attend a “Beer and Science” session on Monday afternoons for an in-depth discussion with the seminar speaker. The student who chooses to attend is opening the network to future success and development. Cancer Center Seminar Series. The Cancer Center Seminar Series features cancer-related research presentations from local and external scientists. The seminar is held on Tuesdays at Noon during the academic year in Room 450 MCRB. See http://www.cancer.umn.edu/outreach/ccseminar.html for the current seminar schedule. MICaB Student Seminar Series. The MICaB Student Seminar Series features research presentations by current MICaB students. The seminar is held on Thursdays at Noon during the academic year (see http://www.micab.umn.edu/news/studentsemseries.html for the room and seminar schedule). MICaB Ph.D. students are required to give a presentation in the MICaB Student Seminar Series during their second and fourth years in the program. MICaB M.D./Ph.D. students are required to give a presentation in the MICaB Student Seminar Series during their first and third years in the program. The first seminar will be a 20-25 minute presentation, while the second seminar will be a 40-45 minute presentation. Three MICaB faculty members (one from each track) will evaluate the seminar presentation. Following the seminar, each of these faculty members will meet with the student to provide feedback to help improve the student’s seminar presentation skills. Seminar attendance requirements. All students in the MICaB program are expected to attend the MICaB Student Seminar Series and either the MICaB Invited Speaker Series or the Cancer Center Seminar Series every week. During the first two years in the MICaB program, students must register in both semesters (Fall and Spring) for MICa 8910 (Faculty seminar) AND MICa 8920 (Student seminar). Students registered for MICa 8910 (Faculty seminar) MUST sign the attendance sheet at the MICaB Invited Speaker Series or the Cancer Center Seminar Series. Students must attend a minimum of 15 seminars (any combination of MICaB Invited Speaker seminars or Cancer seminars) during the semester in order to receive a “S” in MICa 8910. ALL students and faculty must sign the attendance sheets at the MICaB Student Seminar Series meetings. Student-invited seminar speakers. Each year, students in the MICaB program invite distinguished scientists to visit and present their latest research to the MICaB program. There are three student-invited seminar speakers, one for each track. These speakers are nominated and selected by the students, and a student host coordinates the visit. The MICaB student representatives are responsible for soliciting nominations, handling the voting process, and identifying student hosts for the speakers. JOURNAL CLUBS AND DATA CLUBS Journal clubs and data clubs provide important opportunities for students to improve their communication skills, stay current on the latest research, and obtain feedback on their research. Students in the MICaB program are required to make a minimum of one presentation per year of a peer-reviewed publication in a journal club focused on research relevant to the student’s thesis research. The following journal clubs hold regular meetings:
Students should also give regular “research-in-progress” presentations at data club meetings, such as the Immunology Supergroup meeting or the Cancer Biology Research Club meeting.
|